IBM and WEEE
IBM is among the 21 companies from the ICT, CE and LHA sectors who became founding members of the WEEE Ireland compliance scheme, a not for profit organisation incorporated in November 2004. “IBM is committed to environmental leadership in all of its business activities, from its operations to the design of its products and use of its technology. IBM's corporate policy on environmental affairs, first issued in 1971, is supported by the company's global environmental management system, which is the key element of the company's efforts to achieve results consistent with environmental leadership and ensures the company is vigilant in protecting the environment across all of its operations worldwide.”
To read more about how IBM is environmentally aware and active in protecting the environment click here.
What is WEEE?
In August 2005 it became law across the EU that Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) could no longer be disposed of via landfill sites, but instead had to be either recycled or re-used.
To address the requirements of this new legislation the Irish government tasked business with assisting them to set up a compliance scheme in order to comply with the legal obligations imposed by the WEEE Directive 2002/96/EC.
WEEE Ireland organise for the treatment and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment from authorised collection points, on behalf of its Producer members.
Why Recycle?
In the last decade in Europe the growth of WEEE was about three times higher than the average municipal waste stream. Prior to the introduction of the WEEE Regulations 2005 much of the WEEE in Ireland was disposed of in the municipal waste stream directly to landfill.
This is not an ideal solution as WEEE can contain harmful substances that could cause problems to human health and the environment if not treated properly on disposal. In addition production of EEE involves non renewable energy and raw material resources which cannot be recovered if WEEE is disposed of indiscriminately.
The WEEE Directive aims to reduce quantities of WEEE disposed of to landfill and reduce the harmful effects caused by WEEE on health and the environment whilst conserving natural resources.
Collection
Since the introduction of the WEEE Regulations 2005 Consumers can bring their unwanted electrical and electronic equipment to their local Civic Amenity centres for recycling.
The WEEE Ireland map gives details of Civic Amenity centres nationwide with WEEE collection facilities.
In addition Consumers can bring back WEEE within 15 days to Retailers when they purchase new equipment on a like for like basis. Retailers are also obliged to collect WEEE within 15 days of delivery of a new item, provided the item is disconnected from all mains, does not pose a health and safety risk and is readily available for collection. Retailers must give 24 hours notice prior to the collection of WEEE.
WEEE Ireland currently has in the region of 360 members, which represents approximately 80% of the total weight of EEE placed on the market.